Saturday, April 18, 2015

Lincoln Conspirators Held on USS Saugus and Montauk-- Part 2

O'Laughlin and Paine, after overnight imprisonment in Old Capitol Prison, were transferred to the monitors at the Navy Yard.  They were joined by Arnold on the 19th and Spangler on the 24th.

George A. Atzerodt, the would-be assassin of Vice President Johnson, and Ernest Hartman Richter, at whose home Atzerodt was captured, were brought on board the ships on the 20th.  Joao Celetino, Portuguese sea captain who had been heard to say on the 14th that Seward ought to be assassinated, was transferred from Old Capitol Prison to the Montauk on the 25th.

The last of the eight conspiracy suspects to be incarcerated on board the monitors was David E. harold.  The prisoners were kept below decks under heavy guard and were manacled with both wrist and leg irons.  In addition, their heads were covered with canvas hoods the interior of which were fitted with cotton pads that tightly covered the prisoners' eyes and ears.

The hoods contained two small openings to permit breathing and the consumption of food.  An added security measure was taken with Paine by attaching a ball and chain to each ankle.

Not Exactly the Lap of Luxury.  --Old B-Runnero

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